Cotton baling press



(No Model.) .Y 6. Sheets-sheet 1. P.. L. OWEN. COTTON BALING PRESS.

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6 sheets-sheet 2L (No Model.)

R. L. OWEN. COTTON BALING PRESS.

M dilawzey Patente Bb \b. SQ MM @@@l www M NP 5, Il w 0. mu N..

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R. L. OWEN.

COTTON BALING PRESS.

i N0, 567,548. Patented Sept. 8, 1896'.

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6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

R, L. OWEN. eoTToN BALING PRESS.

' Patented Sept. 8, 1896.

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R. L. OWEN.

GUTTUN BALING PRESS.

No. 567,548. Patented sept. 8, 1896.

f w m n 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Moden); R. L. OWEN.

COTTON BALING PRESS.

No. 567,548. Patented Sept. 8, 1896.

.diiomey vUNITED STATES `PATENT Ormea.

COTTON-BALING PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

567,548, dated September 8, 1896.

Application led February 21, 1895. Serial No. 539,264. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT LATHAM OWEN, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing in Muscogee, in the Indian lerritory, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Baling- Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for baling cotton by winding a batinto a cylindrical bale and compressing each layer upon the accumulatingbale during the winding operation, whereby the air between the fibers ofeach layer is thoroughly driven out and the fibers compacted into analmost solid mass by comparatively light pressure.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, strong, durable,and powerful machine adapted for general use among planters, as well asamong those who make a business of compressing cotton, `for winding theiibrous bat into comparatively solid cylindrical bales.

The invention consists principally in the combination, with suitablesupporting mechanism, of a practically stationary apron having aneXpansible bight provided with moving surfaces in which a bat of iibrousmaterial is Wound into a cylindrical bale and compressed layer uponlayer during the winding operation.

The invention consists, further, in the combination of such an apronwith means for regulating the tension thereof, with means for feedingthebat, and with means for opening the bight.

The invention consists, further, in the peculiar construction of theapron and of the means for driving the `moving surfaces of the bight,and in other features hereinafter claimed. N

Figure l of the 'accompanying drawings represents a longitudinalvertical section of this cotton-baling machine having a doublestationary apron provided with a series of driven rolls, thecompressing-bight of the apron being represented in full lines in theposition which it has at the beginning of a bale and in dotted lines inthe position which it assumes at the completion of a bale. Fig. 2represents a longitudinal vertical section of this cotton-baling machinehaving a single compressing-apron, the bight `being open for thedischarge of a completed'bale. Fig. 3 represents an elevation of thedelivery end of the machine, the bight being closed. 55

4 represents a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. l, portions beingbroken out. Fig. 5 represents a transverse vertical section of the frameon a vertical line passing through the center of the bale, showing a 6ocore therefor and means for connecting and disconnecting androtatingsaid core. Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detail of one end ofsaidcore and of the clutch for engaging it, parts thereof being inelevation and parts in longitudinal section. Fig. 7 represents anenlarged side elevation of fragments of the bracket and arc-shapedextension. of the frame, showing the ends of the driving and feedmechanism an d the mechanism for open- 7o ing the compressing-bight fortaking out a bale, said bight-opening mechanism beingin closed position.Fig. S represents a horizontal section through said brackets, show ing aplan of the bight-opening mechanism and the mechanism for holding thebight in closed position. Fig. 9 represents an enlarged detail of thegearing for communicating motion to the rotating rolls of the apron, theauxiliary pinions being alternately on 8o opposite sides of the apron.Fig. l0 represents an enlarged side elevation of the gearing in whichall the auxiliary pinions are on the same side of the apron. Fig. llrepren sents a side elevation of a portion of the apron and of a systemof enlarged gearing which operates alternate rolls of the apron. Fig. 12represents a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. ll. Fig. 13 representsa side elevation of one of the yokes connecting the 9o journals ofadjacent rolls and auxiliary gears. Fig. la represents, on an enlargedscale, a segment of one of the driven rolls of the bight of the apron,the periphery thereof being provided with a roughened surface forengaging the cotton.

The same reference-numerals indicate the same or duplicate parts in allthe figures.

The frame of the machine is of any suitable y construction. Then made asherein shown, roo it consists of skeleton side plates 20, approximatelyrectangular in form, arc-shaped extensions 21 of said plates at theright-hand end of the machine as it appears in Fig. l, and

brackets 22, connecting the upper ends of said extensions with said sideplates. These side plates are connected by suitable cross-bars, as 23,24, and 25. The frame supports an elevated bed and transverse rolls 40and Lil, the ends of the bed -being tangential to the top surfaces ofthe rolls.

A rolling and compressing apron (designated in Fig. 1 by thereference-numeral100) rests in part upon the bed 30 and passes over therolls and 41, being connected at one end to a winding-drum 50, journaledin the frame below the roll 40 and at the other end to a transverseshaft SO, supported on the arcshaped extension of said apron forming aloop or bight 150, which hangs between the roll L11 and the shaft 30.This apron, which is practically stationary as distinguished from atraveling or endless apron, has movable ends to permit the enlargementof the bight to conform to the increment of the bale during itsformation and to facilitate the removal of the bale after itscompletion. The apron is held under a tension sufficient'. to cause thedesired degree of compression of the accumulating bale in the bight. Anysuitable tension device may be employed for this purpose.

A convenient tension device by which the degree of compression of thebight of the apron maybe easily regulated is shown herein. The shaft 51of the drum 50 is provided at its opposite ends with large gears 52,which mesh with pinions (51 on a shaft GO, journaled in the frameadjacent to the drum. The shaft is provided with a friction disk ordisks 62, and a friction brake or brakes 7 O are disposed in proximityto said disk or disks. The brake is adjustable with reference to theface of the disk to increase or decrease the area of contact or degreeof pressure for nltimatelyregulating the tension of the drum 50, andconsequently of the apron. The friction-brake may consist of an armsupported at one end on a pivot 71 and at the other end on an ad-ljustable spindle 72, supported in a lug 73, attached to the frame. Thespindle is provided with a hand-wheel 74, by means of which it is turnedto raise or lower the brake for .increasing or decreasing its tension onthe friction-disk. The brake may have a brake-shoe of any suitable shapeor material, preferably one in the form of a flexible band 75, ofrawhide leather or other suitable material. By means of the large gearsmeshing into the small pinions and the friction-disk and brake thecompressing capacity of the apron may be easily regulated to a very highpressure. The gearing between the drum and frictiondisks may beincreased when very high pressure is required.

The shaft GO is provided with a crank G3 and with a pulley -i, overwhich a drivingbelt (i5 passes, whereby the shaft may be turned eitherby hand or power for rotating the drum 50 through the pinions and gearsreferred to to wind back the apron after completing a bale to readjustthe bight for the formation of another bale.

The shaft 30 is adapted to roll on the arcshaped extensions 21,whichconstitute a track therefor. This shaft is provided with gears S1, whichmesh with toothed segments S2, supported on said arc-shaped extensions.This shaft is provided with gears 35, meshing with the toothed segments32 and with a hand-wheel 83, whereby it is turned and made to travelwhen desired over the arc-shaped track and segments to open or close thebight of the apron. The brackets 22 are provided with recesses 2G, whichserve as bearings for the shaft 80, and latches 86 and 87 are pivoted tosaid brackets. These latches engage said shaft when rolled into saidbearings and hold it -in normal position. These latches are connected bya rod 3S, and the latch SG has a handle whereby both latches may besimultaneously lifted to disengage the shaft for opening the bight.

The rolling and compressing apron maybe either double, as shown in Figs.1 and 4:, or single, as shown in Fig. 2. The double apron 100 comprisesin that portion which forms the bight two layers or series of rolls, anouter layer 110 and an inner layer 130, the rolls of each layer beingconnected by links. The terminals of the apron are fastened byconnecting one end of the outer layer to the winding-drum 50 and theopposite end of the inner layer to the shaft S0. The inner layer issmaller both in width and length than the outer layer. The outer end ofthe inner layer is connected by strong spiral springs 131 with theextended end of a transverse rod 111 of the inner layer, and the innerend of the outer layer is connected by links 112 with the inner layernear its point of connection with the shaft S0. The outer layer, whenconstructed as herein shown, is composed of a number of longitudinalchains 113, extending from the terminal, connected with the drum 50tothe links 112, transverse rods 114-, disposed at close intervals insaid chains, an d antifriction-rolls 115, disposed on said rods betweensaid chains'. The rods and rolls are omitted from the portion of thislayer which winds on the drum 50. This outer layer constitutes aflexible antifrietion-bed for thc rolls of the inner layer, and enablesthe apron to withstand an enormous degree of tension for the rolling ofthe cotton into bales under high pressure.

The inner layer 130 of the double apron 100 is composed in part of aseries of transverse rolls 132, having short trnnnions 133, connected bya series of straight links 134, and in part of a series of transverserolls 135, having elongated trnnnions 13G, connected by triangularlinks. The rolls 135 are the positively-driven rolls which impart amoving surface to the apron within the bight thereof to cause the cottonto roll therein. The rolls 132 and 135 are constructed of steel or otherIlO suitable material, preferably in the form of hollow cylinders havingclosed ends. The peripheries of these driven rolls are preferablyroughened in any suitable manner to enable them to en gage the cotton.The means shown for driving the driven rolls consist of trains ofpinions disposed at opposite edges of the apron and arranged in variousways, as illustrated in the drawings.

In the Aform shown in Figs. 3 and 10, in which successive rolls aredriven, two sets of triangular links are employed at each edge of theapron to connect the trunnions of the rolls and auxiliary pinions. Eachset comprises a series of links 140, disposed in the same longitudinalplane, and a series of links 141, disposed in a plane parallel with therst series, the lower corners of the links of each series beingoverlapped. The elongated tru nnions 136 of the rolls extend through thelower overlapping corners of all the triangular links. Pinions 142 aredisposed on these trunnions of the rolls between each set of triangularlinks, these pinions being of a size which will prevent the intermeshing of their teeth. Auxiliary pinions 143 are disposed vertically overthe` pinions 142 on the trunnions of the rolls and serve to communicatemotion from one roll to another, so as to drive all the rolls in thesame direction. These auxiliary pinions are provided with shorttrunnions 144 on one side and with longer trunnions 145 on the otherside, these trunnions being journaled in the upper angles of thetriangular links, the long trunnions engaging the outer series of linksand the short trunnions the inner series thereof, the long and shorttrunnions being disposed in alternation on each side. This method ofconnectin g the trunnions ofthe rolls and pinions enables the apron tobend without cramping the gearing. l

Another arrangement for connecting the gears is shown in Fig. 9, inwhich the auxiliary pinions are disposed alternately above and below thepinions of the rolls, whereby the apron may be bent to any desired curvein both directions without cramping the gearing.

In the construction shown in Figs. 11 and 12 the transmitting-pinionsfor driving' the rolls are enlarged, and in this case only alternaterolls are positively driven. The alternate driven rolls 13o' havetrunnions 1.36', which are still further elongated, and the alternateidle rolls 132' have short trunnions 133'. The long and short trunnionsare connected byoverlapping straight links 134', and the elongatedtrunnions 136 are connected b v two sets of triangular links 140' and141 of larger' size than the links 140 and 141. Pinions 142' aredisposed on the elongated trunnions between the two sets of triangularlinks, and auxiliary pinions 143' are also supported in said triangularlinks. These links are composed of band-steel of suitable width andthickness to withstand the tensile strain upon the apron.

Straight links or hangers 137 connect the links at the end of thetriangular series with the shaft 80. The pinions 142 on the hrs-t of thedriven rolls 135 mesh with gears 85, which are loose on the shaft 80.When the shaft 8O is in normal position and the bight is closed, thesegears 85 mesh with pinions 91, fixed on an intermediate shaft 90. Thisshaft 90 is also provided at its opposite ends with fixed gears 92,which mesh with gears 161, fixed on a driving-shaft 160, saiddriving-shaft being provided with a driving-pulley 162, which receivesmotion from a belt 163, connected with any suitable motive power. Thedrivingshaft 160 is also provided with a feed-roll 164. A companionfeed-roll 171 is journaled in the brackets 22 in the same horizontalplane with the feed-roll 164. The shaft 170 of the feedroll 171 isprovided with gears 172, which mesh with gears 161 on the shaft 160.

A rotating core may or may not be employed in winding the bat into abale, and this core may or may not be removable from the bale. Thedrawings show a core 180, which may consist of a tubular rod of gaspipeor other suitable material provided. with notches 181 at its oppositeends. A short shaft 182 is journaled in one of the side plates of theframe and another short shaft 182' is journaled in the other side plate22 of th'e frame, these shafts being in line with the axis of the baleto be formed. The shaft 182 is provided at its outer end with adriving-pulley 183 and at its inner end with a longitudinally-slidingclutch 184, having a spline or feather 185, which slides in a groove inthe end of the shaft. This clutch is also provided with a peripheralgroove 186, adapted to receive the pins of an actuating-yoke. The shaft182 is provided at its inner end with a similar clutch 184', having asimilarl spline 185', which engages a longitudinal groove in the shaft,and with a similar peripheral groove 186', adapted to be engaged by theforked end of an actuating-lever. These splines, when the clutches aremoved inward, also engage the flaring notches 181 of the core 180, so asto hold said core in position and cause it to rotate. A driving-beltfrom any convenient point passes over the driving-pulley 183 and turnsthe shaft 182, and consequently the core 180, during the winding of thecotton into a bale. A lever 190, supported on a pivot 193, is providedat one end with a yoke or fork provided with pins 191, which engage theperipheral groove 186 of the clutch 184, said lever being provided atits outer end with a handle 192, whereby it is actuated to move saidclutch in or out. A lever 190', supported on a pivot 193', attached toan arm of the side plate 22, is provided at its lower` end with a forkhaving pins 191', which engage the peripheral The outer end groove 186of the clutch 184'.

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of this lever is provided with a slot 194:. Another lever 195, supportedon a pivot 197, is provided with a pin 190 at its lower end, whichengages the slot 194 of the lever 190', and a rod 198 connects the outerend of the lever 190 with thelever 190, so that one movement of thelever 190 actuates both clutches simultaneously in either direction. Thelever 190 is held in adjusted position by a grooved rack 199. Thiscore-is designed to assist the formation of a bale at the beginning ofthe winding thereof, but it is not deemed essential to the operation ofthe machine, as the bat will wind upon itself within the bight and willbe subjected to pressure as soon as it becomes equal in diameter to theopening in the bight at the beginning of the operation.

The plates 22 are preferably provided with curved guides 250, whichproject a short distance inward and engage the edges of the apron at thebottom of the bight before the expansion thereof.

Vertical guard-plates 260 are disposed opposite the ends of the balesbeing formed.

Guard-plates 270 are preferably hung in the bight at points near theends of the rolls and on line with the inside of the gearing thereof,being attached to the brackets 271, secured to the side plates 2O of theframe. These plates are disposed at the edge of the bat and serve toprevent any loose particles from falling olf the edge and coming incontact with the gearing. They are sufficiently narrow to hang in thebight without contact with the rolls when the bight is in its narrowestposition at the beginning of the winding of a bale.

In Fig. 2 a single apron 200 is represented, composed of idle-rolls 232in its rear portion and driven rolls 235 near its front end,the rolls232 being connected bylongitudinal links 234: at their outer ends andthe rolls 235 by triangular links similar to those heretofore described.ln this figure the drum 40 is dispensed with and the winding-drum 50,similar to the drum 59 in Fig. 1, is disposed in the place of the drum40. The tension device for this drum may be similar to that shown inFig. 1, consisting of the gears 52', pinions 61, friction-disks 62', andbrake 70.

In the use or this machine the cotton, in the form of a bat 301, as itcomes from the condenser of a cotton-gin or other suitable source, maypass over the inclined table 400, thence between the feed-rolls 164E and171 into the bight of the apron. lf a core be used, the end of the batwill pass in contact with the moving surfaces of the driven rolls undersaid core and be turned up around said core. lf no core be used, it willbe turned upon itself, and as it accumulates it will swell, so as totouch the rolls upon both sides of the bight, and then it will begin toreceive pressure. At each rotation of the bale it will receive anaddition of one layer of the bat, and after the bale has enlargedsufliciently to begin to eX- pand the bight of the apron this bat willbe compressed upon the exterior of the accumulating bale. The tension ofthe apron may be regulated so as to impart a high pressure upon thebale,and as each layer is compressed successively upon the roll a verycompact and solid bale is formed. As the bale enlarges to its maximumthe bight of the apron is eX- panded, as shown in dotted lines inFig. 1. lt is designed to form the cotton into bales of'two feet indiameter, more or less.

lVhen abale is completed,the latch-lever 86 is lifted through the rod8S, also the latch 87, whereby the shaft S() is released from itsbearings. It will then roll down the tracks 2l, the gears 81 engagingthe rack 82. At the lower end of said track it encounters stops 2S,provided with rubber cushions 29. Then the shaft is at its lower-mostpoint, the winding-drum is turned somewhat to draw back the apron andraise the bight, whereby the completed bale is rolled out of themachine. Then this end of the apron is carried back to its normalposition by turning the hand-wheel S3, whereby the gears 8G engage thesegments S2 and carry back the shaft 80, which rides under the latches8G and 87 and is again held in its normal position. The winding-drum isthen released and the bight assumes its normal position ready for theformation of another bale.

I claim' as my invention- 1. The combination with suitable supportingmechanism, of a practically stationary apron having an expansible bightprovided with moving surfaces.

2. The combination with suitable supporting mechanism, of an apronhaving a movable end, and an eXpansible bight, and moving surfaces insaid bight.

3. The combination with suitable supporting mechanism, of an apronhaving an eX- pansible bight, and a movable terminal which permits theexpansion of the bight, a drum on which the movable terminal is wound,and means for regulating the tension of said drum.

4. The combination of a suitable supporting mechanism, an apron havingan expansible bight, and a movable terminal which permits the expansionof the bight, and moving surfaces in said bight, and an adjustableterminal which permits the opening of the bight.

5. The combination of a suitable supporting mechanism, an apron havingan expansible bight, movable ends which permit the expansion and openingof the bight, and moving surfaces in said bight, and a tension devicefor regulating the pressure of the bight.

6. The combination of suitable supporting mechanism, an apron having aneXpansible bight, and composed of connected layers composed of rolls andlinks, some of the rolls of the inner layer being provided with drivingmechanism forming movable surfaces in the bight.

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7. The combination of a suitable support-` ing mechanism, an apronhaving an expansible bight, movable ends which permit the expansion andopening of the bight, and moving surfaces `in said bight, a tensiondevice for regulating the pressure ot' the bight, and feed-rolls forcompressing and feeding the bat to the bight.

SJ The combination of suitable supporting mechanism, an apron having anexpansiblc bight, and a movable end which permits the expansion of saidbight, a movable shaft at the end of the bight, provided with gears, andfixed segments with which said gears engage for opening and closing thebight.

9. The combination of suitable supporting mechanism, an apron having anexpansible bight, and a movable end which permits the expansion of saidbight, a movable shaft at the end of the bight provided with gears,fixed segments with which said gears engage for opening and closing thebight, and latches for automatically engaging said shaft when in normalposition for closing the bight.

10. The combination of suitable supporting mechanism, an apron having anexpansible bight, a movable end which permits the expansion thereof, andmoving surfaces in said bight, a tension device for regulating thepressure of the bight, and feed-rolls disposed over the bight of theapron for feeding a bat of cotton t-hereinto.

11. The combination of suitable supporting mechanism, an apron having anexpansible bight, a movable end which permits the eX- pansion thereof, acore disposed in said bight, and moving surfaces in said bight, movableclutches for engaging said core, and means for rotating said core.

12. An apron composed in part of connected idle-rolls, and in part ofdriven rolls provided with pinions at their ends, auxiliary intermediatepinions engaging the pinions of the rolls and overlapping triangularlinks connecting the trunnions of the rolls and pinions.

13. The combination of suitable side frames, an apron having acompressing-bight, and curved guides extending into said bight andengaged by said apron before the expansion of the bight.

14. An improvedA cotton-press for making cylindrical bales, comprising aseries of rolls flexibly connected together and partially encircling thebale during its formation, and means for rotating the bale.

15. The combination with suitable supporting mechanism of an apronhaving a movable end and an expansible bight, and moving surfaces insaid bight.

16. An improved cotton-press for making cylindrical bales, comprising aseries of rolls flexibly connected together and arranged in a loop inwhich the bale is formed, said loop being adapted to enlarge as the baleincreases in size, whereby the bale will be partially encircled by saidrolls during its formation, and

cylindrical bales, comprising a series of rolls flexibly connectedtogether and arranged in a loop in which the bale is formed, said loopbeing adapted to enlarge as the bale increases in size, whereby the balewill be partially encircled by said roll during its formation,means forrotating the bale, and a device for opposing the enlargement of saidloop to apply pressure to the bale.

18. An improved lcotton-press for making cylindrical bales, comprising aseries of rolls flexibly connected together and arranged in a loop inwhich the bale is formed, said loop being adapted to enlarge as the baleincreases in size, whereby the bale will be partially encircled by Asaidrolls during its formation, a device for opposing the enlargement ofsaid loop to apply pressure to the bale, and means for rotating saidrolls whereby the bale will be rotated during its formation.

19. An improved cotton-press for making cylindrical bales, comprising aseries of rolls flexibly connected together and arranged in a loop inwhich the bale is formed, said loop being adapted to enlarge as the baleincreases in size whereby the bale will be partially encircled by said.rolls during its formation, means for rotating the bale, and means foropening said loop for the removal of the bale.

20. An improved cotton-press for making cylindrical bales, comprising aseries of rolls flexibly connected together and arranged in a loop inwhich the bale is formed, said loop being adapted to enlarge as the baleincreases in size, whereby the bale will be partially encircled by saidrolls during its formation, said series of rolls being rigidly securedat one end, means for rotating the bale, and a tension device connectedwith the other end for opposing the enlargement of said loop to applypressure to the bale.

21. In an improved cotton-press for making cylindrical bales, thecombination of two swinging supporting-arms normally locked in asubstantially upright position, a series of rolls flexibly connectedtogether and to said swinging arms, said rolls being arranged in a loopin which the bale is formed and which enlarges as the bale increases insize, whereby the bale will be partially encircled by said rolls duringits formation, means for rotating the bale, and a tension device foropposing the enlargement of the loop for applying pressure to the bale,whereby when the bale has reached the desired size said swinging armsmay be released to allow said loop to open and permit the removal of thebale.

ROBERT LATI-IAM OWEN.` Witnesses:

F. C. SoMns, S. M. Donsnrr.

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